• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Sabres still in running for Presidents' Trophy

Apr 5, 2007 - 3:13 PM Boston (35-39-6) at Buffalo (51-27-7) 7:00 pm EDT

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) - The Buffalo Sabres have sewn up the top seed in the Eastern Conference and clinched the Northeast Division title, but they still have something to play for when they host the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

The Sabres trail the Detroit Red Wings (49-19-12) by one point in the race for the Presidents' Trophy, which is awarded to the team with the most points during the regular season.

So how important is it for the Sabres to capture the Presidents' Trophy?

"Really it's not," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "It would be nice to win but our goal was really to secure home-ice in the Eastern Conference. We've got one other goal and it's past (the Presidents' Trophy)."

The Sabres, who have scored an NHL-best 299 goals this season, clinched the conference title with a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville scored 54 seconds apart in the third period to propel the Sabres. Daniel Briere had two assists in the win and leads the Sabres with 95 points (32 goals 63 assists).

Buffalo last won a conference title in 1979-80, when it was known as the Prince of Wales Conference. The Sabres hadn't won a division title since 1997.

The Bruins, who will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season, are 2-4-1 vs. Buffalo in this season.

Boston has lost four straight, including a 2-0 defeat in Montreal on Tuesday. Goaltender Hannu Toivonen, recalled Monday from the Providence Bruins, made 28 saves in the loss.